Any XC Riders out there?

I want to replace my cycloscross with something with travel, capable of technical XC.

I have been out of mountain biking for so long and it all seems to have gotten a bit complex and - I can't help thinking - a bit OTT!

26in hardtail with 120mm-130mm forks (decent ones) and a double front possibly 10 speed
what is your budget and where do you ride?

Alu frame with any decent fork should do as Mrs Smith says, rear travel only a must for DH/Freeride/Bedwetters.

worth going tubeless/tubeless ready if you can too.

Used to be, totally out of touch now. But agree with Insane Bolt, if you're not riding downhill you don't need rear travel, you need to HTFU.

Less sure about Alu though, I used to ride a P7 and still don't know why anyone would choose an unforgiving alu frame to ride over bumpy surfaces...

technical XC rather than interminable plodding round the edges of fields on dull dull dull bridleways?....youll be wanting some rear sus. in my book then.....ride further/be less-fatigued/hit technical stuff at speed that a hardtail will shy at...

whats your budget?
trek fuel or Specializeds spring to mind....

Wouldnt mind it being single speed?

Budget is for whatever I can get rid of cyclocross for, (which is a SS tricross in mint condition) plus any extra as necessary. I dont ride anywhere offroad yet, but i assume the various trails around surrey?

I remember as a young teenager I always wanted a santa cruz, they just seemed exotic...!

^ own a Heckler, love it....but a built over-built for Xc mind.........so how much you got to spend!? (WHEN YOU SEEL TH cx?)

technical XC rather than interminable plodding round the edges of fields on dull dull dull bridleways?....youll be wanting some rear sus. in my book then.....ride further/be less-fatigued/hit technical stuff at speed that a hardtail will shy at...

whats your budget?
trek fuel or Specializeds spring to mind....

Got to be on the short list, if budget allows.

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FRTITXCARRS/titus-x-carbon-frame-and-monarch-shock

Bargin.

Wouldnt mind it being single speed?

Budget is for whatever I can get rid of cyclocross for, (which is a SS tricross in mint condition) plus any extra as necessary. I dont ride anywhere offroad yet, but i assume the various trails around surrey?

I remember as a young teenager I always wanted a santa cruz, they just seemed exotic...!

hardtail budget then.
steel or alloy hardtail with rockshock reba/revelation/recon (with motion control damping not the oem tora forks without it) possibly 15mm or 20mm bolt through
disk brakes at the cheaper avid/shimano end.
rims wide enough to give a good tyre profile with 2,35's (not not 317's)
if you want SS then either a geared frame with tensioner or a SS frame. have a dialled love/hate with phil wood EBB, not all ebb's are created equal, some are shite (bushnell) most sliding drop systems are a faff and they often slip under load.
external BB cranks not square taper.
decent tryes, probably a winter and summer set.

The On-one Whippet is 899 in SS mode, and comes with a recon fork.
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOWHIPSS/on-one-carbon-whippet-single-speed

I should point out that I might be moving to Manchester and for the fun stuff at Wharncliffe I seem to remember full sus being mandatory?

What about one of these?

http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/superlight/

The On-one Whippet is 899 in SS mode, and comes with a recon fork.
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOWHIPSS/on-one-carbon-whippet-single-speed

You on commission from On-One :-)

Please don't post single speeds. I have been more than happy with my SS cross bike for almost a year and don't need the temptation.
Haven't done gears for 9 years so am oblivious to those.

Paul-Michel/Eiger
You ask for advice but then don't seem capable of taking it.
Check out the bikes that people have suggested.
The on-one bikes are generally amazingly good value.

What about one of these?

http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/superlight/

ive got one. the last model with non-curvy rear triangle. it's a pretty good bike. at its name suggest, it is quite light. it's not that exotic tho. they actually go pretty cheap on ebay. tried to sell mine but despite it being in good condition and having good components, it didnt get much interest.

You on commission from On-One :-)

Please don't post single speeds. I have been more than happy with my SS cross bike for almost a year and don't need the temptation.
Haven't done gears for 9 years so am oblivious to those.

I should be.

superlights are fine if you like how a single pivot with propedal rides but they are not everyones cup of tea especially if you are coming from a hardtail. pivot placement look's like it relies on the 3 ring set-up and the 44t being in the most neutral position for chaingrowth which is not ideal if you run a double and bash that's the 'norm' for u.k trail riding.

i'm sure most people buy full suspension bikes with their eyes rather than their heads.

Essentially I have become so obsessed with my little Brompton that riding my cyclocross feels like riding a bus. And now I want something to have high speed fun on off road. Handling is my my priority

Handling is my my priority

a low BB (learn to time your pedal strokes) and a suspension design that doesn't lock out under braking (like single pivot), slackish headangle but not the silly 66° stuff that's all the rage. uk trails have corners and tight twisty bit's it's not the U.S. with boulevard wide trails and 29'er barges.

superlights are fine...blah blah blah

i'm sure most people buy full suspension bikes with their eyes rather than their heads.

what can i say. my wife said it looks cool and it's got my name on it (literally) ;p

doesn't lock out under braking (like single pivot),.

hmmmm.....NEVER had suspension lock under braking ( the mythical(?) "brake-jack" ) despite riding a Bullitt and a Heckler hard in the French Alps, Whistler and Vancouvers North Shore........perhaps im doing something wrong?...never seemed to harm Steve Peat when he rode for Orange....

horses for courses...cue tedious protracted online linkage vs. single pivot "debate" ; )

single pivot will allways win for me, pro-pedal works well, theyre stiffer than any linkage set-up, and fewer bearings to go wrong.....speaking from subjective personal experience of course

What about one of these?

http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/superlight/

go for it!...love SC's me

superlights are fine if you like how a single pivot with propedal rides but they are not everyones cup of tea especially if you are coming from a hardtail. pivot placement look's like it relies on the 3 ring set-up and the 44t being in the most neutral position for chaingrowth which is not ideal if you run a double and bash that's the 'norm' for u.k trail riding.

i'm sure most people buy full suspension bikes with their eyes rather than their heads.

OT but I've in love with this for some time now, and wonderd if it was just my nerdism that was falling for it.

The overly techy AM frame from Corsair, the Marque.

OT but I've in love with this for some time now, and wonderd if it was just my nerdism that was falling for it.

The overly techy AM frame from Corsair, the Marque.

nice....but nowhere near as techno nerdy as the Nikolai's!